February

February has been busy down here. Garrett is typing up to 10 words a minute and reading very, very well. He has been craving A&W lately, especially their root beer! I was chatting with a girlfriend (a fellow ex-patriot) the other day about all of the food we love and miss back at home. Biscuits with sausage gravy, chili dogs, Oreo cookies, pre-made pie crusts, fresh milk 24/7, pastrami on rye, fresh mushrooms...... Of course we were starving by the time we were done, but it sure was fun!

Blake's project is coming along steadily. Some days are more difficult than others, but overall it is going well.

I have continued teaching English classes and may have even picked up another student! I'll know more later this month. I am also teaching a girlfriend of mine how to cook on Monday afternoons. So far we have made Shepherd's pie (browned ground beef with onions and mashed potatoes) with gravy and a side of peas and carrots, sweet and sour chicken and Brazilian white fish with cheesy cream sauce, potatoes and peppers! Her boyfriend is very happy!!!

I brought my Meijer shopping bags here to Brasil and use them all the time. The people at the grocery store first looked at me funny, but have become accustomed to them. Re-usable grocery bags are not commonly seen here, although they are available. The biggest problem is the cost of re-usable bags is really high and the plastic ones are still free. A girlfriend of mine knows the owner of our local grocery store and is going to talk with him about the mess plastic bags are making all over the world. Hopefully, we will see the price of the re-usables go way down and the plastic ones no longer be free.

Well that's about it for now. I hope this note finds everyone healthy and well. Tchau for now, Pam